Deakin University & Suburban Football Team Up.

Smart Head Play reached an agreement with The Hampton Rovers Football Club to take part in the research study into the effects of concussion in sport. The study is being undertaken by Dr Alan Pearce at Deakin University and was recently covered in the Herald Sun Sports section by Michael Warner.

Full transcript of the piece is below, as written on 15 Mar 2013:

A MELBOURNE suburban football team has volunteered for a world-first concussion study.

More than 40 players from Hampton Rovers will undergo regular brain scans during the season.

Players who receive head knocks will be heavily tested in the days and weeks after the incident.

Williams, who suffered several serious concussions during his AFL career, has revealed he is now afflicted by memory loss and mood swings.

Dr Pearce is investigating the long-term effects of concussion on a number of former AFL players.

But his work with a current group of footballers will play an important role in research examining a link between brain injury and mental health.

Hampton players have been given an initial brain scan to obtain a base result and will be re-examined several times throughout the season.

Former Hampton coach and Western Bulldogs forward Matty Robbins was one of the first AFL players to come forward last year and detail his battle with depression triggered by multiple concussions.

‘The study we are participating in will provide actual data which will be able to be used by medical experts and peak sporting bodies, which will highlight the risk the players are at if and when a head injury occurs,’ Hampton president Matthew Gray said.

‘Concussion in sport is a huge topic at the moment and the recent reports both here and overseas have been quite alarming.

‘We are the only local sporting club in Australia taking part in such a study and we’re excited to be on the cutting edge.

‘We hope that the results produced will raise further awareness of the issue and will help work towards reducing the long-term impact of head injuries in sport.’